“Matthew James Thornberg,” she whispered excitedly. “Is that who I think it is?”
Matt ran a hand over his face, suddenly exhausted. “Mom…”
“She’s your mate,” his father stated, not a question but a certainty. “We could see it the moment we walked in.”
There was no point in denying it. To his parents, he was, and always would be, an open book.
Not that he wanted to deny it. Matt knew how much this meant to them.
They’d been waiting years for their sons to find their mates and give them grandchildren.
“Yes,” Matt admitted, resigned to what was likely to follow. “She’s my mate.”
His mother clapped her hands together, barely containing a squeal of delight. “Oh, Matt! This is wonderful! First Caleb and Hannah, and now you and Tessa. The family is growing!”
“It’s not that simple, Mom,” Matt said, keeping his voice low. “She doesn’t know yet. About any of it. She doesn’t even know shifters exist. And she’s only here visiting for a short time.”
Understanding dawned in his mother’s eyes. “Oh, son. You’re afraid she’ll leave.”
The words struck a chord so deep that Matt’s bear whined in distress. Yes, that was exactly what he feared. That Tessa would walk away before he even had a chance to show her what they could be together.
“I have to win her over first,” Matt murmured. “I need to give her a reason to stay that has nothing to do with fate or shifters or mate bonds. She deserves to choose this—to choose me—not just accept it because some cosmic force decided we’re compatible.”
His father stepped forward, placing a strong hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Son, the mate bond isn’t just some cosmic accident.It recognizes something true between two souls—something that would be there even without shifter magic.”
“Your father’s right,” his mother added. “The bond doesn’t create love out of nothing. It reveals what could already exist between you.”
Matt wanted to believe them. His bear certainly did, rumbling with approval at their words. But the human part of him knew it wasn’t that simple. That relationships were complicated, messy, and sometimes broke no matter how hard you tried to keep them together.
“I just need time,” he said. “Time to let her get to know me without the pressure of the bond.”
His parents exchanged a look he couldn’t quite decipher.
“What?” he asked.
His mother smiled gently. “It’s just... we’ve never seen you like this before. So careful, so concerned about doing everything right.”
“She matters,” Matt said simply. “This matters.” He put his hand over his heart.
“We know,” his father replied. “And for what it’s worth, son, I think your instincts are good. Build trust first. The rest will follow.”
His mother nodded, though she couldn’t quite hide her impatience. “But don’t wait too long, Matt. That young woman out there—she feels it too, even if she doesn’t understand it yet.”
Matt caught himself replaying every look they’d shared during the shift—the quick darting glances when she thought he wasn’t looking, how her eyes lingered just a beat too long when they connected with his. There was something electric there, as if she was just as conscious of the bond between them as he was.Like she felt that invisible thread pulling them together, even without knowing what it meant.
Maybe his mother was right.
Chapter Five – Tessa
Tessa slipped her purse over her aching shoulder. One shift down. One promise kept. She had handled the lunch rush like a professional, and that was something to be proud of. Even if every muscle in her body seemed to be protesting.
Not that she blamed every ache on the restaurant shift. A fair few of them were probably from supporting Rachel on the hike back down the trail this morning.
What she needed was a long soak in a hot bath.
“Thanks for everything,” she said to Jenny, keeping her voice light as they both headed for the exit. “You were a lifesaver today.”
Jenny smiled, pulling on her coat. “Any time. You’re a quick study. See you tomorrow!”
